Unit Secretary-Orthopedics 14W Full-time Evenings

About the role

The Unit Secretary plays a crucial role in the patient care units of Northwestern Medicine, serving as the receptionist and first point of contact for patients, staff, and visitors. Reporting to the Charge Nurse or Clinical Coordinator, this position ensures smooth patient flow, maintains accurate medical records, and supports overall unit operations.

Responsibilities

• Extends courteous service to patients, staff, and visitors, ensuring prompt and responsive communication.
• Maintains visitor/employee access control and reports suspicious activity to security.
• Facilitates communication among patients, staff, and visitors, addressing difficult situations as needed.
• Answers and transfers phone calls according to Northwestern Medicine standards, using AIDET (Acknowledge, Inform, Delegate, Thank, Escort).
• Coordinates calls on multiple lines, prioritizing urgent patient needs.
• Prepares and maintains patient medical records, ensuring timely and accurate document placement and scanning into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
• Verifies regulatory documentation and escalates issues to the appropriate care team.
• Coordinates patient admissions, discharges, and transfers, notifying relevant staff and physicians.
• Manages patient flow, including scheduling tests and procedures, and updating bed tracking.
• Ensures the nursing station and tube station are organized and clean, maintaining an adequate supply of forms, equipment, and supplies.
• Performs basic computer and printer maintenance, completing supply requisitions, and distributing staff assignments.
• Attends training classes as required and performs other duties as assigned by unit leadership.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Basic computer experience.
• One year of college or business school preferred.
• Unit secretary experience preferred.
• Medical terminology knowledge preferred.